Firearm having an integral compensator

ABSTRACT

A Glock compensator integral with a barrel, and a slide assembly allow escaping gases to dampen recoil associated with firing a Glock firearm. The Glock barrel is removed from the front of the firearm allowing for the integrated compensator at the front of the firearm. Various features, including a lock design, debris port, swept back side ports, height offset, nose ring design and mass-reducing rear cutout, result in an efficient and effective integrated compensator suitable for 4th and 5th generation Glock firearms. The compensator and barrel may be fabricated from the same piece of billet.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 62/688,967 filed Jun. 22, 2018 which is incorporated herein for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments of the present invention relate to a compensator for a firearm. More specifically, an integrated compensator for a Glock handgun.

BACKGROUND

Firearm compensators counter the vertical movement of a gun barrel responsive to firing. Upon firing, handguns recoil such that the muzzle climbs vertically. Compensators act to vent gases upward from the gun barrel in a direction opposite to the recoil. In this manner, the vented gases dampen the recoil of the firearm. Many firearm compensators attach to the muzzle end of the firearm. Glock firearms have a barrel that is removed from the rear of the firearm reducing the ability to attach compensators to the muzzle area of the firearm.

It would be advantageous to develop an integrated compensator for a family of handguns (e.g., Glock) that is more efficient and effective at dampening the recoil associated with firing of the handgun and eliminates the concern and drawbacks relative to attaching compensators to the muzzle end of the firearm.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a firearm having a compensator and barrel combination; a slide assembly; said compensator and barrel combination allowing escaping gases to dampen recoil associated with firing said firearm, said compensator and barrel combination comprising one or more of the following: a lock design, debris port, swept back side ports, height offset, nose ring design and mass-reducing rear cutout. In this embodiment, the Glock barrel is removed from the front of the firearm allowing for the integral compensator at the front of the firearm. Various features, including a lock design, debris port, swept back side ports, height offset, nose ring design and mass-reducing rear cutout, result in an efficient and effective integrated compensator suitable for 4^(th) and 5^(th) generation Glock firearms.

Other variations, embodiments and features of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description, drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrates generation 4 and 5 Glock firearms, respectively;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of a slide and barrel assembly having an integrated compensator according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of a locking design according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a side view of a slide and barrel/compensator interface according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate views of a cutout near an interface of the barrel and slide according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate views of a swept back side compensator port according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate views of a compensator height offset according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate views of a compensator bottom according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate views of a nose ring according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate views of a mass-reducing cutout according to the embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 illustrates a view of a firearm with the barrel and compensator unit integrated therein according to the embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive feature illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention claimed.

The components of the present invention may be made using any suitable materials including, but not limited to, alloys, composites, metals, polymers, ceramics, plastics and combinations thereof. The components of the present invention may be fabricated using any suitable technique including, but not limited to, milling, machining, molding, 3D printing and combinations thereof.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show generation 4 and 5 Glock firearms 5, 10 of the type with which the embodiments of the present invention may be used. FIG. 1A also depicts the basic parts of a handgun comprising the slide 15, front sight 20, barrel 25, trigger guard 30, trigger 35, magazine release 40, frame/grip 45, slide lock 50 and rear sight 55. A magazine 60 is inserted into the grip 45 in a conventional manner.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a slide and barrel assembly 100 having an integrated compensator according to the embodiments of the present invention. In broad terms, the slide and barrel assembly 100 includes a slide 110, barrel 120 and compensator 130 with the barrel 120 and compensator 130 being a single unit. In this embodiment, the barrel 120 is removed via the front of the slide 110 allowing for the integration of the compensator 130. In one embodiment, the compensator 130 is manufactured from the same piece of billet as the barrel 120 hence a single unit. Alternatively, the compensator 130 and barrel 120 may be separate pieces. A front sight dovetail 115 in the compensator 130 accepts a front sight for the firearm.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a locking design 150 according to the embodiments of the present invention. As shown, the compensator 130 mechanically locks up to the slide 110 based on an angled relationship between the two.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show a side view of a slide and barrel/compensator interface 160 according to the embodiments of the present invention. As shown, the interface 160 comprises various points of contact between the slide 110 and barrel 120 (not shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B). A first point of contact 160-1 is near a top portion of the slide 110; a second point of contact 160-2 is at a top and bottom of an intermediary vertical portion of the slide 110; a third point of contact 160-3 is below the intermediary portion of the slide 110 and angling forward; and a fourth point of contact 160-4 is at a front of the slide 110 above the nose ring 250.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show views of a cutout 170 near the interface of the barrel 120 and slide 110 according to the embodiments of the present invention. The cutout 170 permits debris to escape. The cutout 170 also functions to eliminate any pinching effect on the user as the barrel 120 and slide 110 separate slightly during firing. While only one cutout 170 is shown, an identical cutout is positioned on the opposite side of the firearm.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show views of a swept back side compensator port 180-1 (port 180-2 is visible in FIG. 8A albeit the swept back portion is not visible) according to the embodiments of the present invention. The swept back nature of the compensator ports 180-1, 180-2 forces gases rearward thereby dampening rearward recoil.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show views of a compensator height offset between a front edge 190 and rear edge 195 of upper compensator port 200 provides several benefits. In one embodiment, the front edge 190 and rear edge 195 are beveled to create additional efficiencies. A first benefit is that the height offset increases efficiency and effectiveness of the compensator 130. A second benefit is that the height offset eliminates a hard edge thus preventing the firearm from snagging on objects. A third benefit is that the height offset forces gases through a Prandtl-Meyer Expansion Fan at the front of the gun thereby pulling the muzzle forward to further reduce rearward recoil.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show views of a compensator bottom 135 according to the embodiments of the present invention. As shown, the bottom 135 of the compensator 130 is below the bottommost surface of the barrel bore 205 providing more efficiency and accuracy. In one embodiment, the bottom 135 is formed by a ball-mill cut.

FIGS. 9A and 9B show views of a nose ring 250 according to the embodiments of the present invention. FIGS. 10A and 10B show views of a mass-reducing cutout 255 according to the embodiments of the present invention. The cutout 255 serves to decrease reciprocating mass associated with the recoil.

FIG. 11 illustrates a view of a firearm 300 with the barrel and compensator unit 310 integrated therewith according to the embodiments of the present invention. As shown, the barrel and compensator unit 310 mates with a slide assembly 320 and includes a barrel 325 and compensator 330.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to several embodiments, additional variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims. 

1. A firearm comprising: a slide assembly; a compensator and barrel combination removably joined to said slide assembly; said compensator including a swept back side port on each side thereof, said swept back side ports configured to direct escaping gases rearward to dampen recoil associated with firing said firearm; and wherein an internal bottommost surface of said compensator is below a bottom surface of a bore of said barrel allowing gases to escape downward and out of said side ports.
 2. The firearm of claim 1 wherein said compensator includes cutouts positioned rearward of said swept back side ports, said cutouts serving as debris ports when adjacent to said slide assembly.
 3. The firearm of claim 2 wherein said compensator and barrel combination interfaces with said slide assembly at points above and below said debris ports.
 4. The firearm of claim 1 wherein said compensator and barrel combination are formed of a single piece of material.
 5. The firearm of claim 2 wherein said compensator and barrel combination interfaces with said slide assembly at points above and below said debris ports.
 6. A firearm comprising: a slide assembly; a compensator and barrel combination removably joined to said slide assembly; said compensator including an upper port, said upper port including a beveled front edge and beveled rear edge, said beveled rear edge elevated relative to said beveled front edge; and wherein an internal bottommost surface of said compensator is below a bottom surface of a bore of said barrel allowing gases to escape downward and out of side ports.
 7. The firearm of claim 6 wherein said compensator further includes a swept back side port on each side thereof, said swept back side ports configured to direct escaping gases rearward to dampen recoil associated with firing said firearm.
 8. The firearm of claim 6 wherein said compensator includes cutouts positioned rearward of said swept back side ports, said cutouts serving as debris ports when adjacent to said slide assembly.
 9. The firearm of claim 8 wherein said compensator and barrel combination interfaces with said slide assembly at points above and below said debris ports.
 10. The firearm of claim 6 wherein said compensator and barrel combination are formed of a single piece of material.
 11. The firearm of claim 8 wherein said compensator and barrel combination interfaces with said slide assembly at points above and below said debris ports.
 12. A firearm barrel and compensator combination comprising: a pair of swept back side ports on each side of said compensator, said swept back side ports configured to direct escaping gases rearward to dampen recoil associated with firing a firearm incorporating said barrel and compensator combination; an upper port in said compensator, said upper port including a beveled front edge and beveled rear edge, said beveled rear edge elevated relative related to said beveled front edge; and wherein an internal bottommost surface of said compensator is below a bottom surface of a barrel bore allowing gases to escape downward and out of said side ports
 13. The firearm barrel and compensator combination of claim 12 further comprising an interface configured to contact a slide assembly.
 14. The firearm barrel and compensator combination of claim 12 wherein said firearm compensator and barrel combination are formed of a single piece of material.
 15. The firearm barrel and compensator combination of claim 12 wherein said firearm compensator and barrel combination interfaces with a slide assembly at points above and below debris ports. 